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'Dancing With the Stars' Season 29: Charles Oakley eliminated, fans wonder if Carol Baskin 'paid' to stay

Despite a tight competition, Oakley and Slater were sent home as two judges voted against them while fans wished it was Carol Baskin who was going home instead

'Dancing With the Stars' Season 29 saw its first elimination on tonight's (September 23) episode. The episode concluded on a rather interesting note as the bottom two consisted of animal activist Carole Baskin and her dancing partner Pasha Pashkov and the former NBA power forward Charles Oakley and Emma Slater. Despite a tight competition, Oakley and Slater were sent home as two judges voted against them. 

Throughout the episode, the former basketball player remained on the bottom of the rank chart with the lowest score. Their cha-cha performance for 'Never Too Much' by Luther Vandros could only gather 15 points as each judge scored them 5. Even though Oakley was determined to not give up, judges were of the opinion that he could work on his footwork and shoulders. 

Even before the eliminations were announced, fans of the show had started to tweet about Oakley's possible elimination after watching his last performance. While some of them commented on his huge frame, which made his dancing partner look puny, the rest couldn't help but comment how "stiff" he was throughout the act. 

However, his exit is also being debated on social media as the majority of them have noted that Baskin deserved to be voted out as her performance was average, while some have slammed the channel and judge Derek Hough, whose vote led to Oakley's elimination, for being "biased" with their judgment. 

One viewer who seemed clearly agitated wrote, "Actually disappointed @derekhough kept Carole Baskin in over Charles Oakley. Like are you getting paid extra for this? #DancingWithTheStars #dwts." Another viewer opined, "When @derekhough saved that evil b***h Carole Baskin just now, instead of legendary Charles Oakley, that was the LAST STRAW, @DancingABC. It's bad enough it's become the 'All About Tyra's Ego' show but I'm not watching any show with that horrible Baskin woman. I'm done, #DWTS." One said, "And there’s the first terrible judge’s decisions the season. Y’all kept Carole Baskin over Charles Oakley?!?! Robbed! Wtf @derekhough and @Carrie anninaba?!?! #DWTS."